Toms River, New Jersey – A wildfire rapidly spreading through Ocean County, New Jersey, led to the evacuation of thousands of residents on Tuesday and temporarily closed a section of a major highway. The Jones Road wildfire, which had grown to cover 3,440 hectares (8,500 acres) and was only 10% contained, reached the former Oyster Creek nuclear power plant. The fire threatened over 1,300 structures, prompting evacuations totaling about 3,000 people. Shelters were set up at local high schools to accommodate those forced to flee their homes.
Authorities closed a portion of the Garden State Parkway, disrupting travel between Barnegat and Lacey townships. Additionally, the Jersey Central Power and Light Company cut power to approximately 25,000 customers, including those in Barnegat township, to ensure the safety of firefighting crews. The cause of the fire remained under investigation, with no immediate reports of injuries.
Debi Schaffer, one of the evacuees, described the chaos she witnessed in the vicinity of her Waretown home as “like a war zone,” filled with smoke, sirens, and helicopters. Despite the tense situation, a nearby alpaca farm reassured the public through a Facebook post that their animals were safe and the property was not at risk.
Following a series of evacuations and road closures, officials announced the lifting of all evacuation orders and the reopening of highways in both directions on Wednesday morning. However, this was not the only wildfire to hit the region recently, as the blaze marked the second major forest fire in less than a week.
With the fire now under control and residents returning to their homes, the community reflects on the swift action taken to ensure everyone’s safety in the face of this natural disaster. The region can begin the task of assessing the damage caused by the wildfire and working towards recovery efforts.